James DeGale had to dig the deepest he ever has had to tonight to win the European super-middleweight title when he beat Piotr Wilczewski on points in an exciting contest at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
DeGale showed more aggression in this fight than he has in his whole career and there is no doubt that he wanted to prove a point and answer some eager questions.
DeGale came out swinging immediately from the first bell, throwing a right hand. Wilczewski came forward and threw shots but landed very little of note as DeGale blocked most. Both fighters came in at close quarters where a lot of clinching took place to make it a tentative start but by the round finished there was already reddening under DeGale’s left eye, surprisingly.
The boxers went to the body in the second, fighting on the inside. A left to the head was scored by DeGale and he tried to follow up but was stopped by the referee, who warned Piotr for use of the elbow. A right uppercut landed on Piotr but DeGale slipped to the canvas quickly as he tried to follow through. He got up but it was too late as the bell sounded.
DeGale and Wilczewski both traded early in the fourth. DeGale landed a good uppercut and quickly moved away to prevent Wilczewski from countering. But success did come for Wilczewski as he landed a right hook to DeGale’s head. Wilczewski was caught by a head combination and DeGale went back to his corner at the end of the round with a cut around his right eye.
The challenger and champion both landed left hands to the head in the fifth. The crowd cheered as they saw their country fighter land a combination to the head and body. Suddenly, things took a turn for the worst for DeGale as he was caught with a huge right hook that forced him to hold. Wilczewski followed up with more head shots as DeGale found himself on the ropes but he managed to survive the round and walked back to his corner with the eye cut bleeding out once again.
In the sixth, Wilczewski scored with a straight right that knocked DeGale’s head back as he had his back to the ropes. Referee, Freddy Rafn warned both for use of the head. Another right and a more noticeable left hook to the head from Wilczewski found success, and yet another right. The fight was fought on the inside as the round ended.
Wilczewski landed a right hook to the head while DeGale had his back to the ropes in the eighth round but was caught with a crowd cheering uppercut. Two left hooks to the head from DeGale made Wilczewski hold. Head and body shots followed and Wilczewski held yet again. As the round ended, Wilczewski looked to his corner to tell them that he was okay to continue with the bout before the bell sounded.
In round nine, Wilczewski put the pressure on DeGale, who was content to fight off the ropes and was caught by a straight left that sent him flying back to the other side of the ring.
Round ten saw quality body shots being delivered by DeGale and he, again, preferred to fight off the ropes. Wilczewski swung wildly to DeGale’s head, probably hoping to land another big right hook but failed. Rafn warned Wilczewski for use of the elbow. The gumshield came flying out of Wilczewski’s mouth although there did not seem to be any meaningful punch that caused it.
Wilczewski stumbled from a left hook by DeGale in the eleventh and was lucky to be able to hold his opponent who was attempting to follow up. Body shots came from DeGale. A left hook to the head of Wilczewski found success before the round ended.
In the twelfth and final round, DeGale landed a straight left that sent Wilczewski rocking back to the opposite side of the ring and he immediately clinched. It looked to be more of an off balance shot than a punch that had serious power, and Wilczewski looked good to continue. Determination from DeGale began to shine through as he threw a fast flurry to the head and body. Little hooks to both guy’s heads landed from one another in the final minute. Wilczewski was again looking for a big right to put DeGale in further trouble but it never came. DeGale finished the bout fighting off the ropes and both were not willing to give an inch as they fought until the very last second!
Scores of 114-114, 113-115 and 113-115 in favour of a reddened and fatigued DeGale was read out but the Londoner was quick to give props to his opponent.
“I’m back on top. I got caught in the fourth and could not hear after that. His record speaks for itself. He’s very tough”, said DeGale.
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